Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 976, settled in 1913.
42% of residents live below the poverty line in Hughes, above both Arkansas’ towns (18%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). No town among the 123 in Arkansas we compare has a lower median rent than Hughes. Hughes Water Tower is on the National Register of Historic Places. Hughes has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
1,441 counted in 2010 and 1,056 in 2020; an estimated 976 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
Census counts: 451 in 1920, a peak of 1,960 in 1960, 1,056 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1927 and 6 maps from 1939 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Hughes, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Hughes.
At 32 minutes, Hughes’ average trip to work is against 21 minutes in Arkansas’ towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. 2.5% of Hughes working residents work locally. Since 2013, Hughes has lost 142 jobs, to 59 in 2023.
| Hughes | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 32 minutes | 21 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.5% | 22% | 8% |
| Median household income | $43,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Hughes’ median age is 57 years. Hughes has lost 7.6% of its people since 2020, down to 976 in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. People 65 and older are 31% of residents (18% statewide); children under 18 are 17% of residents (23% statewide).
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±5.8 points. Across Arkansas, 50.6% of residents are women. Among residents 75 and older, 77% are men (AR 42%).
| Hughes | AR | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 6.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.7% | 10.8% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.6% | 9.4% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 10.7% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 5.5% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 7% | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 22% | 12.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13.9% | 10.3% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 16.8% | 7.2% | 7% |
| No diploma | 10.4% | 11.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 43.7% | 34.1% | 26% |
| Some college | 18.1% | 20.7% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.7% | 8.2% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 4.3% | 16.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 13.8% | 9.5% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,000, single groups can be off by several points
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 77% of U.S. communities. Since 2001, 2 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Hughes.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Hughes has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Hughes is 91°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
6 crimes were reported in Hughes in 2025: 4 property and 2 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Hughes is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Hughes beats the Arkansas average on 4 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 19. 20% of adults have diabetes in Hughes. Only 3 of the 124 Arkansas towns we compare have a higher share of adults who sleep under 7 hours than Hughes.
| Hughes | Arkansas towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 13% | 12% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 34% | 25% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 49% | 39% | 36% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 52% | 41% | 35% |
| What stands out | Hughes | AR |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 10.7% | 14.6% |
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.3% | 8.2% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 20.2% | 10.4% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Hughes; the nearest are
About 7 of every 100 Hughes residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Arkansas.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
3 notable people were born in Hughes.
Town in Arkansas, United States
Hughes is a city in St. Francis County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 1,056.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Hughes has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
3 notable people were born here, including Ernest Lawlers and Sonny Rodgers.
